December is almost over, but there are still some Social Security payments to be made before the new year. This is fantastic news for all recipients and beneficiaries because Christmas is a high-spending season and every penny counts to make ends meet.
To avoid running out of money before the holidays, it’s crucial to plan your expenditures around your benefit payment dates.
When will you get your Social Security payments in December
Every month includes numerous payment days. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) begins on the first of each month. In months where the first day occurs on a weekend or a national holiday, this payment is paid out sooner to avoid delays for beneficiaries. This assures that they have enough money to pay their bills, no matter when they are due.
The December SSI payment was issued on November 29, often known as Black Friday, as December 1 was a Sunday. There will still be an SSI payment in December, but it will be the January payment (which includes all adjustments for the current year). Because January 1 is a national holiday, payments are sent out on December 31, when banks are open and the US Postal Service operates.
The remaining Social Security payments are divided into two categories: those who began claiming benefits before May 1997 and those who started after May 1997.
For those who began claiming before May 1997, the payment date is the third of each month, with the same restrictions for weekends and national holidays governing the distribution schedule.
However, for individuals who began claiming after May 1997, the rules are slightly more complicated because the payout date is based on your birth date. As a general rule, recipients with birthdays on the 1st-10th of the month will receive their benefits on the second Wednesday of that month, those born on the 11th-20th will receive payouts on the third Wednesday, and those born on the 21st-31st will receive payments on the fourth Wednesday. The National Holiday date change continues to apply to these benefits.
Given all of these considerations, when may payments be expected in December, precisely, given the calendar idiosyncrasies that occur with each month?
- December 3: Social Security payment for those who began receiving payments before May 1997.
- December 11: Social Security payment for those born between the 1st and 10th of any month and started after May 1997. This round of payments hit beneficiaries’ accounts later this week, so be on the lookout.
- December 18: Social Security payment for those with a birthday between the 11th and 20th of any month and are beneficiaries after May 1997. This payment will be distributed next week, so there is still a bit of time to go
- December 24: Social Security payment for those born between the 21st and 31st of any month, beneficiaries after May 1997. The payment should go out on the 25th, but that is Christmas Day, and thus a National Holiday. This means that the payment is delivered in advance to ensure that beneficiaries are not negatively affected by any potential delays.
- December 31: SSI Payment for January.